I had my second hip replacement three weeks ago, I was doing really well and the operation was fine.
my husband went back to work and my problems seem to have started.
This week it has become much more difficult and I would like to know if this is normal?
I am taking paracetamol three times a day (not at night) but my hip and thigh still really hurt when I walk. I am walking with one crutch for the last week, but it is sore. Is that normal at this stage? It doesn’t hurt when it is raised and rested, but I can’t rest as I have two children to look after.
I am regularly feeling dizzy and so exhausted, I feel sick, I can’t keep my eyes open for some parts of the day. I can do one or two activities with the children, a bit of housework and I am totally finished.
I don’t know what to do, I am too tired to think straight. Please reassure me if you can, that this is to be expected or if I should call dr.
hello Rose
i am 4 weeks on and using one stick but on saturday i think i overdid it and developed a bad ache behind my knee and leg so am taking it easy for a couple of days .
maybe try with 2 sticks again to relieve the strain ?
are you sleeping at night as i find this impossible ?
try and rest as much as you can which i know is difficult with children and halfterm
x
Hello Rose I think you are expecting too much of yourself, 3 weeks isnt that long! you need to get some help, I had my right hip done about 11 weeks ago and I am still not able to do my normal activities, when I was at three weeks post op I was on pain killers and had to rest, your body has gone through major surgery and it will take time to do normal stuff, I am sure your doctor or surgeon would tell you that you are trying to do too much! please be careful and dont be so hard on yourself
Lack of sleep, pain and pressure of half term. I thought I would be better than this. Sadly I havent got a family willing to help. They even been to visit. All of my friends are away. It is a bit of a nightmare.
Hi Rose,
Everyone is different but it sounds like your body is talking to you. Slow down - too much too soon. If you have a physiotherapist he/she can help you sort things out . Things should be way better in about 3 months. Good luck.
If I am honest I dont have any choice. I am not sure what I can do to improve things. I have told my husband and he is angry about taking more time off. My parents are indifferent.
At least it seems normal. I am relieved. I dont know what I would do if something wrong with it.
I had a LTHR about 2 years ago. Fortunately, I did not have children to take care of. Mine went well, however, I was very tired for a number of weeks/months. I took naps most days because I would get very tired after awhile of being up and moving. I bet when your husband went back to work, you have had to do so much more, especially with your children. I also would have more pain when I would get more active. I was so anxious to get back to “normal” with my life that I would sometimes overdo it and then have to pay with pain. Take it very easy and don’t do too much until you have time to heal.
thank you I really hope so.
doodle I read your message about being so tired. The early days are tough aren’t they. I hope you will soon feel better x
Normal for this stage of recovery Rose.
If your children are very young see if you can get extra nursery time through your HV or could you ask other mums at school. Prioritise what you do. What about after school clubs ?
I was still on co codamol at that stage, naps and two crutches.
It will pass but look for short cuts.
Yes that is exactly what is happening. Everyone expects me to be well. I am not able to make myself better or try any harder than I am.
I was worried that maybe there was something wrong. Thank you for your messages everyone.
Yes I need to find some short cuts. They are not tiny, but young enough to not be able to cook lunch or entertain themselves for very long. They are looking increasingly worried about me, so are hovering.
All of my friends are away as it is half term, two are home but are sick with the norovirus. I cant run the risk of anyone getting that. I have a friend helping tomorrow. Thank you i need to do something about this.
hi Rose, I’m 3 weeks in also and am exactly the same with tiredness, feet up and have a snooze when ever you can, i personally found ibrufen to be more effective than paracetamol getting to one or no crutches, give your body time to heal, it’ll feel 100% stronger and better in the coming week or 2, good luck.
Three weeks, I am having thigh pains at 6 months after my revision, it is fine when cycling, I just get the pain when walking. I have been told to do hand massage (using Bio oil to help that) and use a ‘massage stick’ on it. It is just the muscles realigning, and I need to work on the deep scar tissue.
It takes time to build up your stamina after this operation.
Oh good I am not the only one. I feel like I should be a lot better than I am.
Good luck with your recovery Sean, we need a bit more time to feel completely well I guess.
Hi Rocket. There isn’t much you don’t know about recoveries given how many you have had, and I am glad you are feeling much better - praying this is the last for you and rocket woman.
I am in despair at how slow and how exhausted I am. I should have written notes during the last one (but I was too tired to care funnily enough) and I felt quite elated leaving the hospital, driving my car last weekend. And now…well now I feel like I have been run over by a bus maybe even two, and feel it has caught up with me somewhat.
I have no stamina as in nothing. A completely empty tank.
We forget quickly how this operation affects us don’t we, it’s only because we kept a log of everything that I now have something to refer back to.
I have found a wonderful Facebook group “Total Hip Replacement Forum” with Denise who is a wonderful double THR physio from California, she also has a great surgeon (Chien-Wen) who pops up from time to time too. I’d recommend the group to anyone.
He was saying about THR life expectancy -
"25 years ago, the type of material used are vastly different to today. In particular, ceramic were not as widely used back then, which are the hardest wearing substance we have today as a bearing. The polyethylene that was used 25 years ago was not highly cross linked, and with today’s advancements the amount of wear particles generated from any articulation is so different to 25 years ago. In Australia, the joint registry has captured almost all THR for the last 15+ years. The 15 year data shows a survival of 92% at 15 years. "
so the future is bright.
Your reply hasn’t worked rocket. The moderator has snared it!
Hi Rose,
I really understand how you must be feeling. Although I found sleeping relatively easy at the beginning, I am now struggling and just want to curl up in a ball! Fed up with lying on my back. I have become frustrated with myself even at physio as I cannot walk unaided without a limp. Also when I exercise during physio I get the groin the again, which they said is to be expected. I can walk fairly far on two crutches but struggle with one. I also get a groin pain when I do a longer walk. I am mostly down to one crutch indoors except when it hurts. I really hope you can start to feel well enough soon.
Ann